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RPICT7V1 (This covers for both hardware versions 2 and 3)

RPICT7V1 Version 2 and 3 are no longer produced. Use Version 5 or 6 instead. Get in touch with us if you need to order some version 3 for stacking onto existing version 3.

Link to shop

This page is for board specific information. More information can be found on the generic page for RPICT series.

RPICT7V1 is a Raspberry Pi hat for energy monitoring.

  • 7 AC current sensors.
  • 1 AC Voltage sensor.
  • Measure RMS Current and Voltage, Active power, Apparent Power, Power Factor.
  • Fit on Raspberrypi 4 holes mounting pattern.
  • AtMega328 Mcu (Arduino UNO)
  • MCP3208 ADC
  • Stackable with itself, RPICT8 and RPICT4V3.

Compatibility

Version Compatible?
Raspberrypi 1 A No
Raspberrypi 1 B+ Yes
Raspberrypi 2 B Yes
Raspberrypi 3 B Yes
Raspberrypi 3 B+ Yes
Raspberrypi 4 B Yes
  • Asus Tinkerboard has been reported to work with RPICT units. Note we wont be able to provide support for the Tinkerboard.

RPICT7V1 connected to seven current transformers and one voltage sensor.

  • AC Current sensor:
    • SCT-013-000
    • SCT-019
    • SCT-006
  • AC Voltage sensor:
    • UK: 77DB-06-09
    • EU: 77DE-06-09
    • US: 77DA-10-09

VOLTAGE OUTPUT CT ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THIS BOARD.

Stacking Configuration

Stacking of 5 RPICT cards on a Raspberry Pi.

General stacking information is described in the RPICT stacking page.
RPICT_Stacking

Software Configuration

Legacy firmware

For any units ordered before the 1st of February 2022 the firmware version is version 3.
Please upgrade to firmware version 4.

Upgrading to sketch version 4

Configuration via web interface

First make sure the lcl-package is installed if not done already.

wget lechacal.com/RPICT/tools/lcl-rpict-package_latest.deb
sudo dpkg -i lcl-rpict-package_latest.deb

Now starts a server instance on the Raspberrypi using.

lcl-server.sh

You can now access the Raspberrypi configuration server if you point your browser to the link below

http://raspberrypi:8000/

You can now edit the configuration.

Web tool for configuration of energy monitoring system.

An online version of this web interface exists on this link below.

http://lechacal.com/RPICT/config/generator/latest/index.html

Because the RPICT7V1 version3 does not support auto reset you must use press the white button just after having clicked on the upload to device button.

Configuration via command line

The documentation for serial configuration can be found on this page.
Over_Serial_Configuration_-_Sketch_4
The tool to upload the configuration is called lcl-rpict-config.py. To read the configuration use

lcl-rpict-config.py -a

This produce the /tmp/rpict.conf file containing the configuration of the device.

One can modify this file and write it back using

lcl-rpict-config.py -a -w /tmp/rpict.conf

Files

Default Sketch

Default Sketch V4.2.1.

Simple Python Example

The example python script below will work well with the default configuration.

 import serial
 ser = serial.Serial('/dev/ttyAMA0', 38400)

 try:
       while 1:
            # Read one line from the serial buffer
            line = ser.readline()

            # Remove the trailing carriage return line feed
            line = line[:-2]

            # Create an array of the data
            Z = line.split(' ')

            # Print it nicely
            if len(Z)>15:
                print ("----------")
                print ("Vrms:\t%s" % Z[15])
                print ("          \tCT1\tCT2\tCT3\tCT4\tCT5\tCT6\tCT7")
                print ("RealPower:\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s" % (Z[1], Z[2], Z[3], Z[4], Z[5], Z[6],$
                print ("Irms     :\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s" % (Z[8], Z[9], Z[10], Z[11], Z[12], Z[$


 except KeyboardInterrupt:
       ser.close()

To run this first of all make sure you have python-serial package installed

sudo apt-get install python3-serial

Then run the command below to download the script.

wget lechacal.com/RPICT/example/RPICT7V1_DEMO.py.zip
unzip RPICT7V1_DEMO.py.zip

and run it using

python RPICT7V1_DEMO.py

Data Output

Using the manufacture firmware the data output is:

NodeID RP1 RP2 RP3 RP4 RP5 RP6 RP7 Irms1 Irms2 Irms3 Irms4 Irms5 Irms6 Irms7 Vrms

RP1 is Real Power 1 from CT1 Irms is the rms current on CT1 Vrms is the rms voltage

Real Powers are computed using the following rules:

RealPower1 -> CT1 & V1
RealPower2 -> CT2 & V1
... and so on.

These rules can be modified in the configuration if needed.

Other output type can be streamed out. This should be configured in the unit.

All outputs type available are

  • Vrms (V)
  • Irms (mA)
  • Real Power (W)
  • Apparent Power (W)
  • Power Factor
  • Estimated Power

Emoncms Config (Emonhub)

Make sure you read this first.

For default configuration. Used as single board only (not stacked).

[[/11|11]]
nodename = my_RPICT7V1
hardware = RPICT7V1
[[[rx]]]
names = RP1, RP2, RP3, RP4, RP5, RP6, RP7, Irms1, Irms2, Irms3, Irms4, Irms5, Irms6, Irms7, Vrms
datacode = 0
scales = 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1
units =W,W,W,W,W,W,W,mA,mA,mA,mA,mA,mA,mA,V

RPICT7V1 data output on Emoncms.

Enclosure

Enclosures kit are available as a 3D printed product. Link to the shop.

Both Raspberrypi 3 and 4 format are available.

3D printed enclosure for energy monitoring system.

Howto setup Raspbian for serial read

Gen3_Passive_Component_Setup

Calibration VCAL ICAL PHASECAL

Update RPICT firmware (CT7V1-CT4V3-CT8)

Use Emonhub with RPICT